Now, you have asked my opinion of present conditions of the younger generation.  It seems to me they are living in an age of confusion; they seem to be all at sea as to what they should get for themselves.  I do know this.  In some respects the modern frankness is an improvement over the old suppression and repression in the presence of their elders.  At the same time, I think the young people of today lack the proper reverence and respect for age and the experience it brings as a guide for them.  During my long years of teaching I have had opportunity to study this question.  I am still making a study of the many phases of modern life as it affects the young people.  I do not like the trend of amusements of today; I would like for our young people to become interested in things more worth while; in a higher type of amusement.  Conditions of morality and a lack of regard for conventions is deplorable.  Smoking among the girls has increased the common use of liquor between the sexes.

Did you ask me about the voting restrictions for the colored race in this State?  I will tell you frankly that I think the primary law here is unjust; most unjust.  We are citizens in every other respect; the primary voting privilege should be ours also.  This restriction has been explained as coming down from “the grandfather clause” inserted in early legislation.  I cannot give you the exact wording of the clause but the substance was that no person whose ancestor—­grandfather—­was not entitled to vote before 1863 should have the right to the ballot.  Of course it is readily seen that this clause was written purely for the purpose of denying the vote to the colored people.

Perhaps, madam, my talk has been too much along educational lines.  You asked me about my life since freedom came and how I have lived to the present time.  I have had the blessed privilege of being a teacher—­of doing the work I love best of all in the world to do.  I have written the story of my life work; it is all ready to be published.  I have written “The Story of Negro Schools in Little Rock” and “Memoirs of Little Rock.”  Madam, I have written, I suppose, what would amount to volumes for our church papers and local Negro newspaper.  My daughter was, at one time, editor of the Womens’ Page.  No, I’m indeed sorry that I have not kept a scrapbook of such writings.  In these latter years my friends scold me for having destroyed all the papers as fast as they were read.  The most of the news in the articles, however, I have used in the manuscripts of the books I hope to have published.

Interviewer:  Miss Irene Robertson
Person interviewed:  William J. Stevens, Brinkley, Arkansas
Age:  Up in 70’s